Have you suddenly discovered that there is visible mold in your washing machine? Or do you smell something musty and you’re worried that it could be mold? Cleaner Guys is here to help!
We’re a professional mold removal company with more than 60 years of combined experience. We’re here to show you how simple cleaning mold out of a washing machine can be! (Phew!)
Table of Contents
- How Did Mold Get In the Washing Machine?
- What’s the Best Cleaning Chemical to Clean Mold Out of a Washing Machine?
- Does Bleach Work to Clean Mold in a Washing Machine?
- 5 Steps to How to Clean Mold In Your Washing Machine
- Is Mold In a Washing Machine Dangerous?
- What To Do If You Run a Load of Laundry and Then Find Mold in the Washing Machine
- How to Prevent Mold in a Washing Machine
How Did Mold Get In the Washing Machine?
Washing machines are actually a very easy place for mold to grow. Mold spores are floating around in small numbers all the time, like dust. But all they need to congregate and start growing is moisture, organic material to “eat”, warmth, and darkness. Washing machines usually have all of those! They’re dark, wet, and warm, and can contain dirt and food particles that feed mold.
We have a whole section later on about how to prevent mold from growing in your washing machine in the future, but for now, just know that it’s not that hard!
What’s the Best Cleaning Chemical to Clean Mold Out of a Washing Machine?
As mold removal professionals, our top recommendations for cleaning mold out of a washing machine are vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. They will both work very well at cleaning mold out of your washing machine. Hydrogen peroxide is a little harsher, but vinegar is more natural, and is often a little better at eliminating odors.
Read on to learn how to use them to clean your washing machine.
Does Bleach Work to Clean Mold in a Washing Machine?
Unlike some other publications on the internet, we do not recommend using bleach to clean a washing machine. While it can do a thorough job, bleach is far more toxic and harsh compared to vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, which do just as good of a job. Bleach is also risky, because if you mix it with another chemical, it could produce toxic gas! For example, if you mix bleach and vinegar, they will produce chlorine gas, which is very dangerous! Even the EPA discourages the use of bleach in normal household cleaning situations.
Another problem with using bleach on mold is that bleach is a water-based product. After application, the pH will eventually neutralize, leaving behind nothing but more moisture, which is how mold grows in the first place!
We strongly encourage you to listen to our advice instead of those online publications that suggest bleach, because we are professionals and experts at removing mold, and they are not.
You do not need bleach to thoroughly clean your washing machine of mold.
5 Steps to How to Clean Mold in Your Washing Machine
The question of how to clean mold in your washing machine may seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple! However, we emphasize that just because the process is simple, that doesn’t mean you are free to skip any of the steps as you please. The process is simple and effective as long as you follow every step laid out below.
Important Note: Make sure every item of clothing and textiles is removed from your washing machine before cleaning it for mold!
Step 1: Wear Protective Equipment!
This step is often overlooked, but it’s one of the most important! Mold is a dangerous substance to be exposed to without PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and it should be taken seriously.
When cleaning mold, you should wear sturdy cleaning gloves, a shirt with long sleeves, and an N-95 mask to limit inhalation of mold spores. Safety glasses are optional, but may help prevent spores from irritating your eyes.
Mold can irritate the skin, the eyes, and the lungs, and cause mold sickness symptoms (which may be severe for some). Take protective equipment seriously!
Step 2: Thoroughly Scrub the Inside of the Washing Machine
Take either an abrasive sponge or a towel you plan to throw away afterward, dip or spray it with your chosen cleaner (vinegar or hydrogen peroxide), and thoroughly scrub every crevice inside your washing machine. Pay special attention to the rubber gasket around the door, cleaning inside every fold you can reach.
Step 3: Run a Cleansing Cycle With the Cleaner of Your Choice
Next, add vinegar or peroxide, and run your washing machine through a cleaning cycle, at its hottest and longest setting. You may ask “How much vinegar do I put in my washing machine for mold?”. 1 cup of vinegar should be enough, but if you want to be extra thorough or your machine has a lot of mold in it, you can use 2 cups. These same measurements apply to peroxide.
Some may also ask “Where do you put vinegar in a washing machine?”. Our recommendation is to put it directly in the drum.
Note: Make sure not to have any clothing or textiles in the machine during this cleaning cycle! It should have nothing in it but hot water and vinegar or peroxide.
Step 4: Wipe Down and Let Dry
Thoroughly wipe down the inside of the washing machine with a clean, dry towel, inspecting it with your eyes and nose for any remaining mold residue or odor. If you still detect any mold, repeat steps 2 and 3.
Then, after all this is done, leave the door of the machine open for at least 3 hours, to allow it to dry even more thoroughly. One of the mistakes that can encourage mold growth in a washing machine is closing the door immediately after taking the wet laundry out, as this can prevent the machine from drying thoroughly!
Step 5: Check Around the Washing Machine for Mold
This is another crucial step, but sadly, we haven’t seen any other publication on this subject mention it. Mold on the floor and walls around a washing machine is far more common than mold inside one, so it’s equally important to check for mold around the outside of your machine.
To do this, pull the washing machine away from the wall as far as you can, and visually inspect the floor and the walls around it for signs of mold growth. You can find a comprehensive list of all the main signs of mold in this article here.
Read this article to learn why mold under and behind washing machines is so common, why it’s dangerous, and how to prevent it!
Is Mold in a Washing Machine Dangerous?
Yes, mold in a washing machine is usually dangerous. Exposure of the skin to mold can cause irritation and rashes. Inhalation of mold can cause mold sickness, which can be severe. Mold even causes allergic reactions in some, which can be very dangerous!
Mold exposure affects different people in different ways, and some may experience little to no symptoms when they are exposed to mold. But even if that is the case, your clothes and blankets still aren’t truly getting clean as long as there is mold in your washer! So you should still clean any mold out of your machine right away.
Some may ask “How do I get rid of black mold in my washing machine?”, and “Is black mold in a washing machine dangerous?”
Unfortunately, yes, black mold species can be more dangerous than other colors of mold. But as long as the mold is only a small area (less than 1 square foot), and as long as you wear all the protective equipment we recommend in Step 1, you should still be able to safely clean black mold out of your washer.
What To Do If You Run a Load of Laundry and Then Find Mold in the Washing Machine
If you run your clothes through your washing machine, and then discover that it has mold in it, don’t panic! Your clothes aren’t ruined! There are steps you can take to remove the mold from them, and they’re very similar to the ones used to clean the machine itself of mold.
One of our resident mold experts, Bob, gives specific advice for cleaning clothing with mold on them. “For washing moldy items, I would recommend running the mold clothes through the washing machine with a mild antimicrobial cleaning agent, like hydrogen peroxide or vinegar, and then immediately run them through again with normal detergent.”
Note: follow this procedure for cleaning moldy clothes after following the steps outlined in this article to clean the machine itself of mold. If you try to clean the moldy clothes in the washing machine while it still has mold in it, neither the clothes nor the machine will get clean!
How to Prevent Mold in a Washing Machine
The best ways to prevent mold in a washing machine are to clean it regularly and leave the door open when you’re not using it. Remember, mold needs darkness, moisture, warmth, and organic particles like dirt and food in order to grow! If you simply leave the door open when you’re not using the machine, any moisture will evaporate much faster, and more cool air and light will get in! When you take the time to clean your washing machine regularly, you help make sure that no organic particles or residues are sitting in the machine long enough to attract mold!
“How often should I clean my washing machine to prevent mold?”, you ask? We recommend cleaning it at least every 2 months (more often is even better!). Follow the steps outlined in this article when you do, and you’ll be golden.
Conclusion
Finding mold in your washing machine is shocking, frustrating, and disgusting! Thankfully, with the guidance of a professional mold removal expert like Cleaner Guys, the solution to how to clean mold in your washing machine is simple and straightforward.
Happy cleaning!
If you find mold on the floor or walls around your washing machine, you should bring in a professional mold removal or mold inspection company. If you need one in Western Washington State, consider Cleaner Guys as a high-quality, well-trusted option! We’re proud to boast award-winning customer service, lower prices than others, and top-notch workmanship! Contact us today through the menu at the top of your screen.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No part of this article is medical or legal advice, and may not be used as such. For all serious medical matters, consult your doctor. For all serious legal matters, consult your legal advisor. This article contains Cleaner Guys’ experience and opinions only.
